On Friday, October 31, 2014, SLPS met to give acknowledgement and speak with the honored dead! Halloween lanterns decorated the trees, with witches’ hat candle holders on the table with painted pumpkins among other Halloween decorations. The sugar skull topped the altar, painted last week as part of the Samhain decorations, bringing in the tradition of Saint Death and Day of the Dead festivities.

A small ceremony was held in which the ancestors of those gone to the grave, were welcomed back to the world of the living, for a few brief moments to speak to their living Kin. Hounds were heard in the distance barking madly at the moment the gates were opened, only to be calmed when they left. Reports of fathers, aunts, and animals were seen around the temple. The offerings to the Goddess Hekate and the God Cernunnos who died at this time, to be reborn at Yule. Offerings were wine and hazelnut cookies, offered in the Baron La Croix bowl.

Samhain is also the last harvest holiday before snow falls, bringing in the gourds, pumpkins, and last fruits of the season such as apples, parsnips, cabbage, and berries. A feast in honor the dead was held with foods such as chicken mole enchiladas and jalapeno bean salad with wine.

The Wheel has turned again and Samhain is upon us. This year Samhain will take place at the Temple of the Sun and Moon. We will celebrate the honored dead and invite them to speak to us in circle. The Lord Cernunnos will die, and be born again at Yule.

SLPS had a fun night this past Friday, October 25, 2014 crafting items for Samhain next Friday on the 31st of October. We painted pumpkins in different colors and did another large plaster sugar skull to adorn the altar, which is part of the Day of the Dead festivities.